Payload Shuffling Trims Ariane 5's 2008 Manifest

摘要

The Arianespace commercial launch consortium will be limited to six Ariane 5 rocket launches this year instead of the planned seven following one satellite's late arrival and another's switch to competitor International Launch Services (ILS), according to industry officials. Evry, France-based Arianespace had set a high priority on launching seven Ariane 5 vehicles in 2008 as proof of its intention to boost its operating rhythm gradually, from six in 2007, to seven this year and reaching an eight-per-year plateau starting in 2009. A seventh launch also likely would have improved the company's year-end financial performance.